After compiling a detailed dossier of Scott Morrison’s lies and falsehoods, we were naturally anxious to hear his response to them — whether he wanted to argue the toss over them, or explain how in fact he hadn’t been lying, or was correct in his factual claims.
But we also wanted to know about Morrison’s attitude toward lying as a political practice — after all, politicians of all stripes are renowned for distorting the truth, and no side has a monopoly on blatant untruths. (Remember the role Labor’s Mediscare played in the 2016 election?)
On Monday morning we presented the dossier of Morrison’s lies and falsehoods to the Prime Minister’s Office and invited them to respond to a series of questions, then followed up last night. As is so often the case with the Morrison government, there was simply no response. As Crikey goes to press today (Thursday), we are still waiting.
Here’s what we asked:
- Does the PM dispute the characterisation of any of these as lies and falsehoods?
- Does the PM wish to correct the record in relation to any of these statements beyond the two instances where he has admitted being wrong?
- Does the PM believe the telling of lies degrades public trust in politicians and the political process?
- Does the PM see stating falsehoods or misrepresenting facts as a legitimate tool in political debate, or one that all sides engage in?
- Does the PM believe a politician conveying lies and misinformation in public is a moral or ethical issue, or only a political issue?
- Does the PM believe that as the nation’s leader, he has a particular obligation to observe high standards of accuracy in his public statements, or should he merely observe the same standards as apply generally to politicians?
- What would the PM advise children, including his own, about the upside and downside of telling lies?
A method of political communication that involves a ready recourse to lies and refuses to engage with the substance of political debate or legitimate media questions — a practice by no means confined to the government’s treatment of Crikey — might be regarded as smart tactics.
But it paints a bleak picture of politics — of a government with virtually nothing to say except words intended to deceive.
The article was first published on Tuesday May 25. It was updated on Wednesday May 26 and Thursday May 27
“Mediscare”? Remember the role in the same election, played by the Morrison-Turnbull-Dutton-Coalition BS at about the same time, about how ‘Shorten/Labor’s negative gearing policies would shatter YOUR home’s value and ruin the economy’ : while they were sitting on (their) Treasury’s modeling that called that out for the electioneering political BS it was.
“Pinocchiomo”.
It’s incredibly annoying to see this example rolled out as an example of both sidesism.
The simple truth is that the LNP DID propose putting the billing and payment system for Medicare out to tender. And ultimately, that is all Medicare is. It isn’t hospitals, or nurses, or beds, or medicines. It’s a mechanism to ensure practitioners and providers get paid for their inputs to public health.
And the pure fabrication that Labor were going to introduce Death Taxes.
Mediscare was based a Lib proposal to outsource a part of Medicare, and it is a part of their long term plan to get rid of it completely. It’s one of the items on IPA manifesto.
Don’t forget Krudd’s ‘pink batts killing people and burning down houses‘ – which this site has used many times – as lazy, clueless & uninterested shorthand.
Sums up the whole smelly way the current Government runs this country with no shame whatsoever
No response seems to be Morrison’s default answer to scrutiny. Openness and debate are an essential part of a healthy democracy
“Pinocchiomo”.
“Mediscare”?
Remember the role in the same election, played by the Morrison-Turnbull-Dutton-Coalition BS, about the same time, about how ‘Labor’s negative gearing policies would smash YOUR home’s value, like a sledgehammer; and ruin the economy’ : while (their) Treasury’s modelling called that out for the political electioneering BS it was. Treasury confidentially telling (Treasurer) Morrison (in early 2016) that the policy would have little effect on prices.
Go Crikey, nothing stings more than the truth…..I think your list is probably a bit/lot short. The PM seems incapable of telling the true and uses lies to cover up misdeeds and sow the seeds of doubt. We seem to swim in a sea of lies when it come to the current government and their mates @ newscorp. The sad part is they have enabled them to keep their supporters firmly in tow. Unfortunately I suspect they will hold and win the next election by the end of this year, another 3 years of lies, deception, coverups and environmental and democratic destruction. Very sad for the young who will be left to pay for conservative vandalism.